In a significant development, the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, Alok Aradhe with the concurrence of the Governor of Maharashtra, has issued a notification designating Kolhapur as a place of sitting for the Judges and Division Benches of the High Court.

The said notification shall come into effect from 18th August, 2025, upon which Judges and Benches of the High Court shall hold court at Kolhapur in accordance with law.

Besides the main seat in Bombay, the High Court has three other benches located in Nagpur, Aurangabad and Goa. With the addition of Kolhapur the number of benches will now be four.

The successful establishment of the bench in Kolhapur is the result of the concerted efforts and initiative of the Chief Justice of India (CJI), BR Gavai and the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, Justice Alok Aradhe.

It may be recalled that at a felicitation in Aurangabad, on June 26, 2025, the CJI had stated, "every time there is a demand for the Kolhapur bench of the Bombay High Court, I have supported it and given the example of the Aurangabad bench’’. Justice, he had said, ‘should be available to every citizen in every corner’.

The newly designated bench at Kolhapur is testimony of how proactively the Chief Justice of India and the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court had supported the proposal, ensuring its approval and timely implementation.

Kindly refer to the official notification available at the link below

Tap to read